No southern comfort

Comments (12)

Jacq S says...

I agree with most of this but boy weren't the Boks tedious?
If kicking the ball repeatedly very high in the air is an artform then these men are truely artists of the highest calibre.
Not like England to be the team that felt they weren't allowed to play rugby in a test match.

Posted 16:45 15th June 2012

Phil Orr says...

4-1 beatiing surely - A Test is a Test and a wins a win for a' that. Thanks for the recognition Barnsey - we may be struggling at the moment but we are still one of the two nations to take part in the FIRST EVER test match. Respect where it's due - we are not a second tier nation - YET!

Posted 14:44 15th June 2012

Etienne Groenewald says...

My prediction for this weekend is that the Springboks win by at least 15 points. Ellis Park or Coca Cola Park as it's called now is the Springbok Fortress. We very seldom play poorly at Ellis Park. Most Springbok fans don't feel as though we played particularly well and the media has made no secret of the fact that we should be beating a team like England comfortably. I think you should expect a hell of a step up in intensity from the Springboks this weekend. If the English aren't expecting a 25% increase in intensity, they might get totally blown off the park. The Bok supporters expect more and I think we going to get it this weekend.

Posted 11:15 14th June 2012

Steve Norman says...

I think Stuart Lancaster is definitely proving a good choice. England could have lost this game by at least another 14 points but England's never say die attitude saved the day. This unity has been forged under Lancaster. having Joseph on the bench was probably not expected by most. By having him there, he's now already in the hunt for a starting position over the next 6 months. Johnson for Dowson was hoped for but not expected. Marler was expected.
It is unlikely that England will now win a test but tours are about finding out as well as winning and Lancaster is giving himself the chance to do this. Flood back in is a must. I hope he goes Joseph at 13 and Tui at 12. Haskell to the bench. With an averaged sized pack (brave mind!) England do need to find a broader game and I think this is something that Mr Lancaster and his team will do.

Posted 18:23 13th June 2012

Steven Brooks says...

Surely the point is that england have not picked attacking combinations in midfield. England have always favoured strong defence over cutting attack. We are to worried about what the opposition can do to us and not what we should be doing to them. Brad Barritt is a defensive rock, but will never cut a line or deliver a miss pass. Billy Twelvetrees is the answer at inside centre. England seem determind to waste his talent A Allen is a good player butis a little to small for international rugby he wont gwt the go forward and Im not sure his distribution or kicking game is good enough to compensate. I agree with the last persons comments Brown is a good club player but does not have the pace for international rugby. My main point is that historically England have preferred strong defence over attack and until this turgid mentality stops talented, game breakers will never be given a go Simpson Daniel Olly Smith to name but two players who have suffered

Posted 17:46 12th June 2012

Rhys Williams says...

I think Wales were frustrating rather than poor.
We got in to good situations and then made a very basic error which during the 6 nations we were not making.
We don't have that clinical edge we had a couple of seasons ago. But the team is a lot more streetwise from then. Waht we need to do is get the balance right between being clinical and having teh know how.
It will come, maybe even on this tour but if not we shouldn't panic we have time with a young squad!

Posted 14:28 12th June 2012

Jeff Badland says...

England will not be a force under Lancaster, nor will they be under anybody else until Dean Richards is given the job.

Posted 14:17 12th June 2012

Ronald Abel says...

if we could not beat a springbook team which only meet for five days , anyone who thinks we can beat them in the next test are deluded. They will only get better and better

Posted 00:29 12th June 2012

Jim Kerr says...

4 - 0 beating ! surely 4 - 1, thank god for the poor relations, Scotland did beat Australia no matter the conditions(same for both teams), they also beat them the last time they played, also just won a series in Argentina, eat you heart out Stu Barnes

Posted 15:08 11th June 2012

Dave Archer says...

Can't believe the Irish did not attack the Kiwi lineout, the ONLY AB weakness. Teams without depth have no chance against the AB. They really needed Bowe, Ferris and O'Connell just to try to even the contest. Most in SA believe the backs could be improved with more pace but will give HM more time. We would imagine the squad to change a bit for the Kiwi/Aus clashes later this year. GO THE BOKKE !!

Posted 14:09 11th June 2012

Phil Gray says...

Regarding your point on the Welsh conservatism I agree to an extent. Much criticism was levelled at Wales for not knowing how to win tight games (e.g. v S Africa and France in the RWC). I think the 6 Nations this year was an attempt by them to address those concerns and win by any means. It was not quite of the class of England in the 2003 RWC when they proved their class in that arena but it was a good lesson for them.
On the subject of the Aussies having a lot of injuries, Wales were too missing a few weapons from their arsenal and further Warburton's recent game time was zilch in a battle that pretty much decided the game and put Genia on that front foot. As a Welshman I am hoping we can see Warburton return to game form and that the 9/10 axis play with composure.
A win is possible but not on the performance of saturday or the 6 nations (save for the Irish v Wales match) ... It is bhackl to their performance v S Africa in the opening match of the RWC where we need to head.

Posted 14:03 11th June 2012

Alan Fox says...

Other pundits are critical of Ben Morgan and praise Mike Brown however I differ I believe Morgan played pretty well and cannot be responsible for stopping th Boks forward drives without support. With regards Mike Brown his defence was abysmal and his not even half hearted attempt to stop de Villiers was shocking & had he not been injured should have been dropped as a result of this. Foden is our best 15. JJ was brought on too late what was Lancaster thinking. It reminded of years gone by when Engand played 10 man rugby only to fall 2 scores behind then realising they had some backs that could actually play rugby but it was always too little too late